Concord OKs amendment regarding Rt. 202 median

CONCORD -- In a decision delayed from earlier in the month, the supervisors approved an amendment affecting billboards and convenience stores in the median of Wilmington-West Chester Pike.

The Route 202 median overlay district is intended to provide additional opportunities for commercial development in the center of the highway.

The wording notes the properties are uniquely affected because of their location between the north and southbound lanes.

The township has received a number of billboard applications and has been successful in addressing them, said township Solicitor Hugh Donaghue.

As a result, the ordinance designates the RMO district as the only area within the township where billboards and off-premises signs will be permitted.

The amendment allows only one billboard per property, limits maximum sign face and height and outlines regulations such as distance between billboards and from residential districts and hours of illumination. Similar requirements are included for automatic changeable copy signs.

Donaghue made specific reference to a vote by the zoning board last year regarding off-premises signs along the highway.

In a split decision, the zoners granted a special exception for the installation of a double-faced, automatic changeable copy billboard at 364 Wilmington-West Chester Pike, while denying the application for a similar sign at 225 Wilmington-West Chester Pike.

The township opted to appeal the decision regarding the approved sign, while the applicant chose to appeal the decision of the one that was denied.

"One of the reasons for this overlay is to isolate billboards in this strip and hopefully eliminate them in any other area of the township," said Donaghue. "By allowing them there, it would put them as far as possible from residential areas."

The amendment allows mini-markets up to 4,000 square feet as permitted uses in districts zoned C-1, C-2 or RMO.

Larger stores, including those where gasoline is sold, will require conditional use.

The ordinance also changes the size of the lot necessary for the bigger markets from 4 acres to 3 acres.